Child and Family Support Week underway

THE National Child and Family Support Week campaign is taking place this week with events happening in Ballymun, Beaumont, Cabra, Drumcondra, Finglas, Phibsboro and the north inner city. 

There will also be events in Northside west areas including Blanchardstown, Castleknock and Clonsilla.

Organised by Tusla – Child and Family Agency, the campaign began on Monday and runs until Sunday, May 19.

This year’s campaign, which follows on from last year’s inaugural public information drive, will highlight the range of services Tusla provides as part of its Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) programme.

The support week is being backed up by national and regional advertising campaigns, and will feature special public events in Northside districts.

Tusla National Child and Family Support Week aims to create widespread public awareness of Tusla’s PPFS programme in north Dublin.

It’s hoped this will lead to increased engagement with its services by parents, children, young people and the wider community.

The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Supporting Ireland’s Families with Tusla Services, and Tusla-Funded Partners, in Your Community’.

There will be a special focus on family and parenting supports provided by Tusla.

Dr Teresa Nyland, the Tusla Senior PPFS manager for Dublin North City, said: “Our PPFS teams assist families to access locally-based services, which promotes integration and early identification of needs. 

“All members of the public are invited to participate in planned events and to come celebrate with us to hear the positive impact that the work of our services generate.

“I particularly welcome the participation of children and families in our planned activities.”

Some of the events taking place include:

• Tuesday May 14: Launch of photography project: Finglas through the lens of a child – St Helena’s FRC Finglas

• Wednesday May 15: Professional information morning involving professionals working in the child/family space in Dublin North City – St Helena’s FRC, Finglas

• Thursday May 16: The Neighbourhood Youth Project 1 in Dublin’s North Inner City celebrates 40 years in operation – Ozanam House, Mountjoy Square from 4pm.

Tusla PPFS information stands at Jervis Shopping Centre will also be open during the week on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.

Cathriona Sheehan Tusla Senior PPFS manager for Dublin North said: “A very wise person once told me that the hardest thing about parenting is to learn which bridge to cross and which to burn.

“If life presented us with no difficulties there would be no successes. The key to making it is often asking for help, for a different viewpoint, for support to turn the struggle into an achievement.

“This is what Tusla is to me and my team, and the Tusla we strive to offer to support families to succeed.”

Commenting on National Child and Family Support Week, Pat Smyth Interim CEO of Tusla, said: "Tusla National Child and Family Support Week provides us with a unique opportunity to create further awareness of the range of supports that are available to families in Ireland.

 “Tusla is proactively supporting Ireland’s families through a range of specialist services and funded partners in communities across the country.

“Children and families are most likely to do well if they are provided with appropriate support in a timely fashion.

 “Our PPFS programme works with families to resolve problems at an early stage in order to improve outcomes for children, young people and families. If a child or family needs support, Tusla is there to provide assistance.”

Members of the public in north Dublin wishing to contact Tusla during Tusla National Child and Family Support Week can visit Tusla.ie for more details, email [email protected] or follow #childandfamilyweek on Tusla’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.

Tusla also operates the online resource at www.parenting24seven.ie.